title: Amphetamine ingestion presenting as eclampsia.
abstract: A case of amphetamine abuse in late pregnancy is reported. The presenting features of convulsions, confusion, agitation with hypertension and proteinuria led to a diagnosis of eclampsia for which a caesarean section was performed. Investigations and differential diagnosis of convulsions in late pregnancy are reviewed. A general urinary drug screen gives results after 24 hr whereas, if amphetamine abuse is suspected, this can be confirmed within three hr if a specific test for urinary amphetamines is performed. The sympathomimetic effects of a single dose of amphetamine are contrasted with the depression of the sympathetic nervous system which occurs after long-term use. Implications for anaesthesia are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospital, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000662:Amphetamines; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000662:Amphetamines